Fire on a Hydrogen Tube Trailer Truck
A fire developed on a tube trailer transporting 330 kg of compressed hydrogen, while travelling on a highway. The fire was due to a pressure relief valve of a tube releasing hydrogen. The flames reached 10 to 20 m. The fire brigades were able to extinguish the file in 30 minutes.The truck had left a plant of hydrogen production and storage to deliver to a refuelling station. The probable origin of the incident is a fire on the tyres of the truck, which caused the overheating of the tubes, the increase of the internal pressure and the consequent opening of the pressure relief valve.
Event Date
December 28, 2021
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes (Select all applicable options):
Cause Comments
The root cause is a defect in the vehicles brake system, which The put the tires on fire.The tire fire triggered then the opening of the safety device of two of the hydrogen tubes when their internal pressure rose due to the increased temperature. The investigation determined that the released hydrogen ignited twice, forming a jet flame.
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
tube trailer truck, brakes, 10 hydrogen tubes.
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Countryside Road Or Highway
Operational Condition
Number of Injured Persons
3
Currency
Lessons Learned
it is not known if the incident triggered corrective actions. In general, it can be noted that according to the KBS News, the truck took fire in front of a tunnel. If the incident would have occurred in the tunnel, the consequence would have been much more sever. A hydrogen-specific regulation for the use of public infrastructures lacks in most of the countries.
Emergency Action
Unknown
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category